Hales stands by back-tracking approach

SYDNEY Thunder opener Alex Hales has refuted suggestions his back-tracking fielding on the edge of the circle is against the spirit of the game.

The Thunder kept their BBL season alive on Thursday night with a dominant 57-run win over Hobart Hurricanes in their elimination play-off.

But Hales’ fielding at midon drew the ire of former Australia captain Ricky Ponting in commentary for Channel

Seven. Ponting said Englishman Hales had broken the rules and wasn’t acting in the spirit of the game by stepping outside the inner circle before the bowler released the ball.

Under fielding regulations, a certain number of fielders must be within the inner circle.

Hales said he had spoken with umpires on the field to clarify what was happening.

“As soon as the bowler lets go of the ball you’re allowed to leave the ring, which is what I was doing,” Hales said.

“I think that’s what they thought on the replay [that I was leaving early] but I was pretty sure I was leaving after he let it go.”

Hales said he was trying to anticipate where the batsman would hit the ball. “If someone goes for a reverse sweep, first slip moves after the ball is let go,” he said. “Once the ball is let go and you see the batsman swing, you can react in the field. For me I think it’s fine.”

THE Adelaide Strikers are backing their trump card Rashid

Khan to bounce back from a rare walloping in tonight’s knockout BBL final against Sydney Thunder.

The Hurricanes smacked 35 runs off Khan in three wicketless overs in Adelaide’s last outing — his most expensive economy rate in the tournament. Strikers captain Travis Head expects the Thunder batsmen to repeat the sweeping tactic against Khan in the Adelaide Oval final, but doubts the tweaker will be fazed. “A lot of them will sweep ... over the years guys have done that to Rash and we saw Hobart play really well against him,” Head said yesterday.

“He’s all class, he hasn’t had too many bad games for us over the years.

“He is always working on different things, he will be prepared for that game plan, a lot of guys take that route, so I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Tonight’s victor will play the loser of last night’s match between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers.